Father of missing Raleigh toddler charged with his murder

An apartment complex in southwest Raleigh normally full of children was quiet Christmas morning as Raleigh police continue to investigate the possible murder of 2-year-old Tristan Blue.

The toddler was reported missing shortly before 1:15 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Officers initially were told he was last seen around 8 a.m. and might have wandered out of his apartment in the 5400 block of Portree Place in Southwest Raleigh.

An intense search was launched but was suspended when darkness fell Wednesday night. Detectives, however, continued to work, and by 6 a.m. Thursday morning, the child’s father, Steven Daniel Blue, 31, was charged with Tristan’s murder. His mother, Briana Dangerfield, 25, was charged with child neglect for leaving the child at home unattended while she went to work.

Blue is being held without bail, which is required by North Carolina law for murder charges. Dangerfield is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

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